Congress, Department of Defense
: Washington Democrat Rick Larsen, Co-Chair of the US-China Working Group, during a panel discussion with Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) at the Center for US-China Strategic and International Affairs. (Photo Credit: Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)
Paris Air Show — As Congress considers more funding for the Pentagon over the debt ceiling, including increased security assistance to Ukraine, members of the congressional delegation who attended the Paris Air Show said the Pentagon’s revenues would increase. He said he expected an increase.
Or, as one lawmaker bluntly put it, lawmakers probably “can’t help” inform the Pentagon. More money will come in the next few months.
Washington Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen, at a press conference hosted by the Aerospace Industry Association at the Paris Air Show, effectively treated the Ukraine Supplementary Spending Bill as a foregone conclusion, where lobbying by the Pentagon had greater success. suggested to bring Funds exceeding spending limits set as part of the debt ceiling agreement.
“If we take into account the Ukrainian correction, it will be the Ukrainian correction + plus because Congress cannot do anything on its own,” Larsen said. former Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) He is currently a member of the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee.
“The Pentagon will come up and say, ‘Other things weren’t in the bill,'” he continued. “So maybe we should use a supplement for other things that don’t concern Ukraine. And while Congress will probably roll over and do it for them, it should be taken as a criticism. In addition, he pointed out the bloated budget of the Overseas Emergency Account.
Larsen has joined the largest parliamentary delegation in history at the Paris Air Show, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow. And he wasn’t the only one to say the extra spending might benefit the Pentagon. Alabama Republican Rep. Dale Strong, a current HASC member, said that given the high inflation, “additional steps will be required. National security will be short of about $40 billion. And As an American, I cannot allow that.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri), also a HASC member, said additional military spending to support Ukraine and potentially other national security challenges “is unlikely.” A strong possibility,” he said, adding, “I think so.” Let’s see the supplement. ”
Rep. Darrell Issa (Republican, California) added, “I think the administration and Congress will react both to direct aid to Ukraine and to support for stronger NATO at this time.”
Under the debt ceiling set last month, total national security funding (primarily the Pentagon but also including the Department of Energy nuclear weapons program and several other smaller funds collectively known as the 050 fund) The cap is capped at $886 billion.
But pro-defence lawmakers didn’t waste time After consensus was formed as a campaign for special defense recruitment to increase overall sales. The figure of $886 billion is about 3 percent increase That’s above the top line set for fiscal 2023 and below what defense hawks think is needed to keep up with inflation, let alone compete with China.
Senators also separately voiced their support for the additional spending bill.
“I came here to make sure that Europe and other countries contribute more to the Ukrainian cause … Also, the role we play is that America is in Ukraine, Or to reassure Europeans that they are supporting Ukraine in the long term,” said Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran, who serves on the Senate Appropriations and Defense Subcommittee.
“I would like to advocate an increase in defense spending through a supplementary budget to Ukraine,” he added. “What’s happening in Ukraine has a huge impact on what’s happening in the South Pacific. And China is our biggest enemy.”
Senator Joe Manchin (Democrat, West Virginia) both The Senate Armed Services Appropriations Committee expressed strong support for Ukraine, calling US involvement in the conflict “the only just war I’ve seen the US participate in for good reason.”
He also left open the possibility of spending more on defense.
“We will all be united in whatever the defense of our country requires,” he said. “Politically, our defense unites us,” he added.
